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For those with mild cases of malocclusion, at-home aligners are safe and effective when used according to the instructions of a dentist or orthodontist.
“Patients with mild cases make excellent candidates for at-home aligner treatment. Also, patients who have demanding work schedules or are worried about making the time for office visits appreciate the independence that comes with this option. Additionally, patients who are very committed to their treatment timeline and will be able to keep themselves on track see the most success with this treatment plan.”
Dr. Elvi Barcoma
While most orthodontic and dental professionals agree on the safety of at-home aligner treatment, it does have some critics.
One concern is that at-home aligners have a lower quality of treatment than in-office brands. While remote treatment is more convenient, there is a greater risk of errors when an orthodontist cannot personally examine your bite.
In addition, some cite the fact that at-home aligners are fairly recent, so it’s hard to have solid data on their efficacy.
Nevertheless, most users of at-home aligners seem satisfied with their treatment. One study found that at-home aligners had an 87.5% user satisfaction rate.8
Straighten your teeth at a fraction of the cost. Learn about clear aligners.
At-home clear aligners are a convenient orthodontic alternative to in-office options like Invisalign and ClearCorrect. They can be used to treat a variety of teeth alignment issues from the comfort of home.
Unlike Invisalign, which involves numerous visits to the dentist or orthodontist, at-home aligner treatment is mostly or entirely remote.
Popular at-home clear aligner brands include:
Another popular clear aligner brand is Candid, which is a hybrid between in-office and at-home treatment.
With Candid, you have to visit a CandidPro Provider (licensed dentist or orthodontist) for initial scans and impressions. The rest of the treatment is monitored remotely, except for one final office visit at the end.
At-home clear aligners mostly follow the same process to begin treatment:
You wear each clear aligner for 22+ hours per day, only taking them off to eat, drink, brush, or floss (or play sports or music.) Every 2 weeks, you’ll switch to the next clear aligner in the series.
During the course of treatment, at-home clear aligners slowly move your teeth into their correct positions. Total treatment time varies depending on the brand and your level of malocclusion (teeth misalignment).
Some at-home brands have telehealth apps, where you check in with a licensed dentist or orthodontist every couple of weeks. You can also use the apps to ask questions about your treatment.
After treatment is finished, the last aligner usually serves as a retainer, which you’ll wear nightly to keep your teeth straight.
A study from 2020 shows nearly 88% of at-home clear aligner patients report positive treatment outcomes.8 Just 6.6% reported having to visit their dentist or orthodontist to correct an adverse outcome.8
This includes budget at-home aligner brands like NewSmile and AlignerCo.
It should also be noted here that these brands, along with all the at-home aligner brands mentioned:
Most dental professionals prefer in-office treatment over at-home aligners because in-office treatment reduces the chance for error. It's also easier to make adjustments as necessary.
No medical treatment or procedure is risk-free.
However, as long as instructions are followed, at-home clear aligner treatment is reasonably safe and effective for mild-to-moderate cases of malocclusion.
Find the best at-home clear aligners for mild misalignment. See our expert recommendations.
Here are some tips on how to minimize any risks when doing at-home aligner treatment:
The two best and safest alternatives to in-office clear aligner treatment are:
Candid uses a hybrid model of care that combines in-office consultations with the convenience of remote monitoring.
To begin treatment, you must visit a licensed orthodontist or dentist. There’s also one more in-person consultation after treatment ends to make sure there are no issues.
After that consultation, a licensed orthodontist designs and monitors your treatment. Orthodontists specialize in teeth-straightening, giving Candid an added layer of thoroughness to their treatment process.
However, this added thoroughness does come at a price. Candid aligners cost $3,300 on average, with factors including your CandidPro provider and where you live impacting the price.
Candid treatment also takes longer (4 to 12 months), and they don’t offer night aligners for safety reasons.
While still operational, SmileDirectClub (SDC) pioneered the mail-in aligner industry and is still the most widely known. SDC offers both daytime and nighttime clear aligners for thousands less than braces.
The company announced its bankruptcy liquidation on September 2023, ceasing aligner treatments and ending its lifetime guarantee.
Its global operations closed on December 2023 after failing to secure the funds needed to buy itself out of bankruptcy.
How this affects you will depend on which stage of the treatment process you’re in. You can read our customer guide for SmileDirectClub.
Straighten your teeth conveniently at home. Compare the best clear aligner brands.
Most dentists agree that in-office aligners and braces are safer than at-home treatment. They’re also better for more severe cases of malocclusion.
Invisalign is effective at treating most moderate-to-severe cases of malocclusion.
Braces are particularly effective for complex cases because they can move your teeth more precisely.
This means they can rotate your teeth back into their correct positions. They can also move individual teeth in different directions, unlike most clear aligners.
Some instances where braces may be a better option include:
However, these options also often cost tens of thousands of dollars and are inconvenient for many. For those with mild-to-moderate malocclusion, at-home aligners are a convenient and affordable treatment option.
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